14TH month pay labor groups support Sotto bill

CEBU, Philippines - Various labor groups in Cebu supported the proposal that mandated a 14th month pay for all employees every year.

Senator Vicente Sotto III earlier filed Senate Bill 1645 providing such incentive for all rank-and-file employees in the government and private sector.

Dennis Derige, spokesperson of Partido ng Manggagawa-Cebu, said they are supporting Sotto’s bill.

“The so-called growth in the economy must transcend to the real growth on the income of ordinary Filipino workers and need not be monopolized by the rich,” Derige said.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines also welcomed the proposal.

ALU-TUCP spokesperson Art Barrit said they believed that workers will be more productive if their efforts are recognized and are given a decent life.

“Atong hinumduman  ang mamumuo nga nagahago sa tibuok adlaw, nagpasingot ug nag antos alang sa pagbuhi sa negosyo nga  ilang gitrabahuan. Apan ang nagpabilin  sa  kapit-os sa ilang adlaw-adlaw nga panginabuhian. Kinahanglan motabang ang gobiyerno sa atong mga mamumuo paghatag kanila og kahigayunan sa pagtagamtam sa progresibong ekonomiya pinaagi sa ispiritu sa pakig-angay,” he added.

Jose Tomongha, president of the Alliance of Progressive Labor, also supported the proposal.

“We support this proposal but we knew that once this will be discussed in the Upper and Lower House, it is very hard to pass,” said Tomongha, the labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7.

But he added that more than 80 percent of the lawmakers are capitalists and they expect them to oppose the bill.

Lito Maderazo, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the bill is counter-productive.

Maderazo said that the incentive should be based on performance and productivity of the employees.

Robert Go, board of director of Philippine Retailers Association-Cebu Chapter, said that there is no need to give such benefit.

“The more mandated increases, the more foreign investment will shy away,” Go said.

Go cited that some of the country’s factories have already transferred to other countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and China where productivity is high and labor is cheaper.

“Creating jobs is more important,” he added.  (FREEMAN)